Fan shroud assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan shroud assembly for filtering air being blown by a fan includes a shroud that has a continuously arcuate outer boundary such that the shroud has a circular shape. In this way the shroud can be positioned around a cage of a fan. The shroud has a filtering portion which is comprised of a particulate filtering material. In this way the filtering portion filters particles from air being blown by the fan thereby reducing allergens in the air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to shroud devices and more particularly pertains to a new shroud device for filtering air being blown by a fan.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to shroud devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shroud that has a continuously arcuate outer boundary such that the shroud has a circular shape. In this way the shroud can be positioned around a cage of a fan. The shroud has a filtering portion which is comprised of a particulate filtering material. In this way the filtering portion filters particles from air being blown by the fan thereby reducing allergens in the air.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan shroud assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a left view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new shroud device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 , the fan shroud assembly 10 generally comprises a shroud 12 which has a continuously arcuate outer boundary 14 such that the shroud 12 has a circular shape. In this way the shroud 12 can be positioned around a cage 16 of a fan 18. The shroud 12 has a filtering portion 20 which is comprised of a particulate filtering material to filter particles from air being blown by the fan 18 thereby reducing allergens in the air. The fan 18 may be an electric fan with a circular cage that is commonly employed for blowing air in a house, for example, to cool a room in the house.

The filtering portion 20 has a front surface 22, a back surface 24 and a perimeter edge 26 extending between the front surface 22 and the back surface 24. The perimeter edge 26 is continuously arcuate about a center point of the filtering portion 20 such that the filtering portion 20 has a disk shape. Moreover, the perimeter edge 26 defines the continuously arcuate outer boundary 14 of the shroud 12. The filtering portion 20 may comprise foam rubber, pressed fiber or other type of material commonly employed for filtering dust from air.

The shroud 12 has a mesh portion 28 which has a first edge 30 and a second edge 32. The first edge 30 is coupled to the perimeter edge 26 of the filtering portion 20 having the first edge 30 being coextensive with the perimeter edge 26 such that the mesh portion 28 is spaced from the back surface 24 of the filtering portion 20. The second edge 32 is co-arcuate with the first edge 30 such that the second edge 32 defines an opening 34 into the shroud 12. In this way the opening 34 can be positioned on a forward side 36 of the cage 16 of the fan 18. Thus, the fan 18 blows air through the opening 34 when the fan 18 is turned on. The mesh portion 28 may be comprised of a mesh material or other type of fluid permeable material that can pass air therethrough unimpeded.

The filtering portion 20 rests against a rear side 38 of the cage 16 of the fan 18 when the shroud 12 is positioned on the cage 16. The filtering portion 20 has a hole 40 extending through the front surface 22 and the back surface 24 of the filtering portion 20. The hole 40 surrounds a motor housing 42 of the fan 18 when the shroud 12 is positioned around the cage 16 of the fan 18. The hole 40 has a bounding edge 44 and the bounding edge 44 has a plurality of intersecting sides 46 such that the hole 40 has a rectangular shape.

The shroud 12 has a cut 48 extending through the shroud 12 and the cut 48 facilitates the shroud 12 to be positioned around the cage 16 of the fan 18. The cut 48 extends between the hole 40 and the second edge 32 of the mesh portion 28 of the shroud 12. The mesh portion 28 has a lip 50 extending away from the second edge 32. Moreover, the lip 50 is comprised of an elastomeric material to retain the mesh portion 28 of the forward side 36 of the cage 16 of the fan 18 when the shroud 12 is positioned around the cage 16.

A border 52 is coupled to the filtering portion 20 of the shroud 12. The border 52 extends around the bounding edge 44 of the hole 40 in the filtering portion 20. In this way the border 52 extends around the motor housing 42 of the fan 18 when the shroud 12 is positioned around the cage 16 of the fan 18. A first mating member 54 is coupled to the shroud 12 and the first mating member 54 extends along a full length of the cut 48. The first mating member 54 extends along the front surface 22 of the filtering portion 20 and a front surface 22 of the mesh portion 28.

A second mating member 56 is coupled to the shroud 12 and the second mating member 56 extends along a full length of the cut 48. The second mating member 56 is positioned on an opposite side of the cut 48 with respect to the first mating member 54. Furthermore, the second mating member 56 extends along the front surface 22 of the filtering portion 20 and a front surface 22 of the mesh portion 28. The second mating member 56 is releasably matable to the first mating member 54 for closing the cut 48 when the shroud 12 is positioned around the cage 16 of the fan 18. Each of the first mating member 54 and the second mating member 56 may comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop fastener or the like.

In use, the shroud 12 is positioned around the cage 16 of the fan 18 such that the filtering portion 20 covers the rear side 38 of the cage 16 and the mesh portion 28 lies against the forward side 36 of the cage 16. The hole 40 is positioned around the motor housing 42 of the fan 18 and the first mating member 54 is mated to the second mating member 56. In this way the filtering portion 20 filters the air that is drawn through the rear side 38 of the cage 16 when the fan 18 is turned on. Additionally, the mesh portion 28 and the opening 34 defined by the mesh portion 28 facilitate air the pass unimpeded through the forward side 36 of the cage 16 of the fan 18. Thus, the air in the room in which the fan 18 is positioned is filtered while the fan 18 is turned on. In this way allergens in the room are reduced in order to reduce allergic reactions of occupants of the room.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A fan shroud assembly being fittable around a fan thereby filtering air being blown by the fan, said assembly comprising: a shroud having a continuously arcuate outer boundary such that said shroud has a circular shape wherein said shroud is configured to be positioned around a cage of a fan, said shroud having a filtering portion being comprised of a particulate filtering material wherein said filtering portion is configured to filter particles from air being blown by the fan thereby reducing allergens in the air wherein said filtering portion has a front surface, a back surface and a perimeter edge extending between said front surface and said back surface, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate about a center point of said filtering portion such that said filtering portion has a disk shape having said perimeter edge defining said continuously arcuate outer boundary of said shroud; wherein said shroud has a mesh portion having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being coupled to said perimeter edge of said filtering portion having said first edge being coextensive with said perimeter edge such that said mesh portion is spaced from said back surface of said filtering portion, said second edge being co-arcuate with said first edge such that said second edge defines an opening into said shroud wherein said opening is configured to be positioned on a forward side of the cage of the fan thereby facilitating the fan to blow air through said opening when said fan is turned on and having said filtering portion resting against a rear side of the cage of the fan; wherein said filtering portion has a hole extending through said front surface and said back surface of said filtering portion wherein said hole is configured to surround a motor housing of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan, said hole having a bounding edge, said bounding edge having a plurality of intersecting sides such that said hole has a rectangular shape; wherein said shroud has a cut extending through said shroud wherein said cut is configured to facilitate said shroud to be positioned around the cage of the fan, said cut extending between said hole and said opening at said second edge of said mesh portion of said shroud.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mesh portion has a lip extending away from said second edge, said lip being comprised of an elastomeric material wherein said lip is configured to retain said mesh portion of the forward side of the cage of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a border being coupled to said filtering portion of said shroud, said border extending around said bounding edge of said hole in said filtering portion wherein said border is configured to extend around the motor housing of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first mating member being coupled to said shroud, said first mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said first mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a second mating member being coupled to said shroud, said second mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said second mating member being positioned on an opposite side of said cut with respect to said first mating member, said second mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said second mating member is releasably matable to said first mating member for closing said cut when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan.
 10. A fan shroud assembly being fittable around a fan thereby filtering air being blown by the fan, said assembly comprising: a shroud having a continuously arcuate outer boundary such that said shroud has a circular shape wherein said shroud is configured to be positioned around a cage of a fan, said shroud having a filtering portion being comprised of a particulate filtering material wherein said filtering portion is configured to filter particles from air being blown by the fan thereby reducing allergens in the air, said filtering portion having a front surface, a back surface and a perimeter edge extending between said front surface and said back surface, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate about a center point of said filtering portion such that said filtering portion has a disk shape having said perimeter edge defining said continuously arcuate outer boundary of said shroud, said shroud having a mesh portion having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being coupled to said perimeter edge of said filtering portion having said first edge being coextensive with said perimeter edge such that said mesh portion is spaced from said back surface of said filtering portion, said second edge being co-arcuate with said first edge such that said second edge defines an opening into said shroud wherein said opening is configured to be positioned on a forward side of the cage of the fan thereby facilitating the fan to blow air through said opening when said fan is turned on and having said filtering portion resting against a rear side of the cage of the fan, said filtering portion having a hole extending through said front surface and said back surface of said filtering portion wherein said hole is configured to surround a motor housing of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan, said hole having a bounding edge, said bounding edge having a plurality of intersecting sides such that said hole has a rectangular shape, said shroud having a cut extending through said shroud wherein said cut is configured to facilitate said shroud to be positioned around the cage of the fan, said cut extending between said hole and said opening at said second edge of said mesh portion of said shroud, said mesh portion having a lip extending away from said second edge, said lip being comprised of an elastomeric material wherein said lip is configured to retain said mesh portion of the forward side of the cage of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage; a border being coupled to said filtering portion of said shroud, said border extending around said bounding edge of said hole in said filtering portion wherein said border is configured to extend around the motor housing of the fan when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan; a first mating member being coupled to said shroud, said first mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said first mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion; and a second mating member being coupled to said shroud, said second mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said second mating member being positioned on an opposite side of said cut with respect to said first mating member, said second mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion, said second mating member being releasably matable to said first mating member for closing said cut when said shroud is positioned around the cage of the fan.
 11. A fan shroud system being fittable around a fan thereby filtering air being blown by the fan, said assembly comprising: a fan having a cage, said cage having a forward side and a rear side, said fan having a motor housing being disposed on said rear side of said cage; a shroud having a continuously arcuate outer boundary such that said shroud has a circular shape thereby facilitating said shroud to be positioned around said cage of said fan, said shroud having a filtering portion being comprised of a particulate filtering material wherein said filtering portion is configured to filter particles from air being blown by said fan thereby reducing allergens in the air, said filtering portion having a front surface, a back surface and a perimeter edge extending between said front surface and said back surface, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate about a center point of said filtering portion such that said filtering portion has a disk shape having said perimeter edge defining said continuously arcuate outer boundary of said shroud, said shroud having a mesh portion having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being coupled to said perimeter edge of said filtering portion having said first edge being coextensive with said perimeter edge such that said mesh portion is spaced from said back surface of said filtering portion, said second edge being co-arcuate with said first edge such that said second edge defines an opening into said shroud such that said opening is positioned on said forward side of said cage of said fan thereby facilitating said fan to blow air through said opening when said fan is turned on and having said filtering portion resting against said rear side of said cage of said fan, said filtering portion having a hole extending through said front surface and said back surface of said filtering portion such that said hole surrounds said motor housing of said fan when said shroud is positioned around said cage of said fan, said hole having a bounding edge, said bounding edge having a plurality of intersecting sides such that said hole has a rectangular shape, said shroud having a cut extending through said shroud to facilitate said shroud to be positioned around said cage of said fan, said cut extending between said hole and said opening at said second edge of said mesh portion of said shroud, said mesh portion having a lip extending away from said second edge, said lip being comprised of an elastomeric material retain said mesh portion of said forward side of said cage of said fan when said shroud is positioned around said cage; a border being coupled to said filtering portion of said shroud, said border extending around said bounding edge of said hole in said filtering portion such that said border extends around said motor housing of said fan when said shroud is positioned around said cage of said fan; a first mating member being coupled to said shroud, said first mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said first mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion; and a second mating member being coupled to said shroud, said second mating member extending along a full length of said cut, said second mating member being positioned on an opposite side of said cut with respect to said first mating member, said second mating member extending along said front surface of said filtering portion and a front surface of said mesh portion, said second mating member being releasably matable to said first mating member for closing said cut when said shroud is positioned around said cage of said fan. 